Power pinstripes

Fri, Aug 9

Designers took a tip from Madonna in how to power dress on the runway. Back in her platinum prime the pop star dominated the zeitgeist in her “Express Yourself” video clip wearing a pinstriped suit. Back then Jean Paul Gaultier did the honours, but this season it was Stella McCartney, Yōhji Yamamoto, Vivienne Westwood and Maison Martin Margiela.

At Yamamoto, the fabric, traditionally used in men’s suiting, was given a serious tweak with nipped jackets and flared trousers pairing to create a girlie gangster vibe. McCartney, however, followed in Madonna’s footsteps and stuck to boxy shapes and clean lines that screamed aesthetic ambition. This version of career dressing definitely deserves further promotion.